Pressenza Pressenza International Press Agency New York, 03/12/09 On pointing out that approximately 10% of the people in the World suffer from a physical, mental, or sensory disability, Ban Ki-Moon highlighted the need to continue working around the globe in order to ensure people with disabilities could enjoy "equal opportunities" for personal development and prosperity.
"The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities", which came into effect in 2008, "is one of the most important tools we have to reach this objective", Mr. Ki-Moon added. Stevie Wonder commented that he was "unable to understand" why 90% of the people in the world were indifferent to the fate of the other 10%.
The singer insisted that a lot of work still had to be done in order to improve the standard of living of people with disabilities, especially in terms of transportation.
[Translation by Sinéad]
